Zip fasteners

ABSTRACT

A zip fastener comprising a pair of opposed stringer tapes and rows of fastener elements secured thereto. These fastener elements are in the form of continuous helical coils and are relatively flat as cross-sectionally observed so as to provide greater flexibility. The rows of fastener elements are sewn to the stringer tapes closely along the coupling head portions of the elements so as to assure the proper engagement of the fastener elements.

United States Patent [1 1 Sekine [111 3,815,181 I 1 June 11, 1974 ZIP FASTENERS [75] Inventor: I-Iiroyuki Sekine, lchikawa, Japan [73] Assignee: Yoshida Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha,

Tokyo, Japan [22] Filed: May 18, I972 [21] Appl. No.: 254,734

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Dec. 30, 1971 Japan 47-1397[U] [52] US. Cl. 24/205.l C, 24/205.13 C, 24/205.l6 C

[51] Int. Cl. A44b 19/12, A44b 19/34 [58] Field of Search24/205.l C, 205.13 C, 205.16 C

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,299,230 10/1942 Hanson 24/205.13 C 3,249,976 5/1966 Burbank 24/205.l C 3,423,803 1/1969 Frohlich 24/205.13 C

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,240,317 5/1967 Germany 24/205.13 C

1,197,095 7/1970 Great Britain 24/205.l3 1,238,148 6/1960 France 24/205.13 1,273,239 7/1968 Germany 24/205 1 488,423 Switzerland 24/205.1

Primary Examiner-Bernard A. Cvelak Attorney,.Agent, 0r Firm-Robert E. Burns; Emmanuel .1. Lobato; Bruce L. Adams 1 [57 ABSTRACT A zip fastener comprising a pair of opposed stringer tapes and rowsof fastener elements secured thereto.

These fastener elements are in the form of continuous helical coils and are relatively flat as cross-sectionally observed so as to provide greater flexibility. The rows of fastener elements are sewn to the stringer tapes closely along the coupling head portions of the elements so as to assure theproper engagement of the fastener elements.

4 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures.

I 1 ZIP FASTENERS This invention relates to improvements in or relating to zip fasteners, more particularly to zip fasteners of the Known zip fasteners of this kind are provided with I such a construction have the disadvantage that they re-.

strict free movementof the fastener elements in response to bending or otherwise flexing forces. Resistance to flexible movement of the fastener elements is further augmented by the fact that the cross-sectional height of fastener'elements is usually'greater than onehalf of their width, rendering the rows of elements relatively thick and hence less flexible. Stiffness-of the fastener is also attributed to the filling up of the element rows with a Stiffening cord or the like which is usually employed for reinforcement purposes. In certain known fasteners, the rows of fastener elements have a cord or filler inserted therethrough but not fully filled up, and the elements are sewn mostly along the turns of the coils oppositeto the coupling heads. Thistype of fastener has the-drawback that the cord is liable to deform on compressive contact with the coupling heads of the mating elements, resulting in weakened interlocking engagement of the fastener elements. 7

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved zip fastener incorporating features which will eliminate the above-noted difficulties of the conventional, coil type fasteners.

This and other objects and features of the invention will appear clear from the following description rendered in connection with a preferred embodiment and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a segment of a zip fastener embodying the invention; I FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the same; and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line AA of FIG. 1. In accordance with the invention, there is provided a zip fastener comprising a pair of opposed stringer tapes and rows of fastener elements mounted thereon. The elements arein the form of continuous helical coils, each of which coils each consisting of a coupling head, two arms extending from opposite ends of said head in a direction in which they depart sidewise from each other so that the coil assumes a shape analogous to a small letterl when projected to the plane of the fastener, and connecting portions extending from said arms and connecting adjacent coils and being spaced apart from each other.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown a zip fastener 10 comprised of a pair of opposed stringer tapes ll, 12 each having mounted thereon a row of fastener elements E which are interengageable and'separable by a slider (not shown) to close and open the fas-.

tener.

These fastener elements are in the form of continuous helical coils and each element E consists of a coupling head l3, two arms 14, 15 extending from'opposite 2. ends thereof and connecting portions 16 extending from said arms and connecting together adjacentcoils.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the coupling head 13 is substantially normal to the plane of the stringer tape 11. The arm 15 is adjacent to the stringer tape 11 and 1 has a portion 15a initially curved in one longitudinal I direction of the stringer tape or to the leftand then has another portion 15b extending in the opposite direction or to the right and connecting with the right connecting portion 16a which connects it with the coil adjacent to it on the right. Arm 14 has a portion 14a initially curving to the right and then has another portion 14b extending to the left and connecting with the left connecting portion 16b which connects it with the coil adjacent to it on the left.

One important aspect of the invention resides in a structural feature wherein firstly, the two arms 14 and 15 of each coil element E extend in a direction in which they depart sidewise'from eachother so that the coil element E assumes a shape analogous to a small letter I when projected to the plane of the fastener 10 as shown in FIGL .1 and wherein secondly the connecting portions 16 in adjacent coils are spaced apart from each other as better shown in FIG. 2. This structural According to a further important aspect of the invention, there is provided a stiffening cord 17 which is in-- serted through each row of fastener elements E in a manner to fill most of the inner space of the element row except a spatial region 18 close to the coupling head 13, and the elements E are secured together with v A the cord 17 onto the respective tapes l1, l2 by'means of for example two-thread chain stitches S which run closely along spatial region 18 adjacent the coupling heads 13 as better seen in FIG. 3, whereby the cord 17 is prevented from becoming deformed in contact with the coupling heads 13 of the mating elements.

Having thus described the invention, it will be understood that changes and modifications may be made in the specific form and construction of the device herein advanced, without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

l. A stringer tape assembly for a zipper fastener comprising: at least one stringer tape having a row of fastener elements mounted thereon, and comprising a row of continuous helical coils with each coil consisting of a coupling head disposed substantially normal to the plane of the stringer tape, two arms including a first arm adjacent to the stringer tape and a second arm, a

first connecting portion connecting the coil to a coil adjacent thereto in one longitudinal direction of said stringer tape, a second connecting portion connecting 3 v I arm initially extending in said other longitudinal direction and then extending in said one longitudinal direction to connect with said first connecting portion, said first and second arms of each coil being spaced apart to define a space therebetween, a stiffening cord inserted through said space in each coil with a clearance existing adjacent said coupling heads, and means securing the row of fastener elements together with said cord at a location extending along said clearance.

2. A zip fastener as defined in claim 1 wherein the cross-sectional height of said coils is less than one half of the width of said coils.

3. A stringer tape assembly for a zipper fastener according to claim 1 further comprisingz a pair of oppling heads.

posed stringer tapes each having a row of continuous helical coils each comprising a continuous coiled filament extending along the length of each stringer tape, said coiled filament comprising a series of interconnected oblong fastener coils and a stiffening cord extending interiorly through said coiled filament and filling up the entire space existing interiorly of the coils except for a clearance located adjacent the coil cou- 4. A stringer tape assembly according to claim 3, wherein said securing means comprises a sewing thread extending tightly overthe arm of each coil and sewn through said stiffening cord. 

1. A stringer tape assembly for a zipper fastener comprising: at least one stringer tape having a row of fastener elements mounted thereon, and comprising a row of continuous helical coils with each coil consisting of a coupling head disposed substantially normal to the plane of the stringer tape, two arms including a first arm adjacent to the stringer tape and a second arm, a first connecting portion connecting the coil to a coil adjacent thereto in one longitudinal direction of said stringer tape, a second connecting portion connecting the coil to a coil adjacent thereto in the other longitudinal direction of said stringer tape, said second arm extending generally laterally from said coupling head and initially curved in said one longitudinal direction and then extending in said other longitudinal direction to connect with said second connecting portion, said first arm initially extending in said other longitudinal direction And then extending in said one longitudinal direction to connect with said first connecting portion, said first and second arms of each coil being spaced apart to define a space therebetween, a stiffening cord inserted through said space in each coil with a clearance existing adjacent said coupling heads, and means securing the row of fastener elements together with said cord at a location extending along said clearance.
 2. A zip fastener as defined in claim 1 wherein the cross-sectional height of said coils is less than one half of the width of said coils.
 3. A stringer tape assembly for a zipper fastener according to claim 1 further comprising: a pair of opposed stringer tapes each having a row of continuous helical coils each comprising a continuous coiled filament extending along the length of each stringer tape, said coiled filament comprising a series of interconnected oblong fastener coils and a stiffening cord extending interiorly through said coiled filament and filling up the entire space existing interiorly of the coils except for a clearance located adjacent the coil coupling heads.
 4. A stringer tape assembly according to claim 3, wherein said securing means comprises a sewing thread extending tightly over the arm of each coil and sewn through said stiffening cord. 